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In spite of the ruin, an emotional but resilient Burk was beginning to turn the page Monday.

Operating from a second building untouched by the fire, Burk set his team into motion. Some salvaged records from the fire-damaged office, others dug a ditch and ran a line to restore power to the site’s gas pumps.

A few crews were out conducting business as usual, fulfilling landscaping jobs promised to customers. By Tuesday, nearly the entire fleet of 30 trucks could be back at work, except for three destroyed by the fire, Burk vowed.

“We were getting ready to change seasons from summer work to winter work,” he said. “This time of year, you prepare for snow. You don’t prepare for this.”

For Burk, the fire was a setback, not a death sentence, for the business he started in 1990 and helped grow to employ 65 people during peak seasons.

“We are definitely going to rebuild at this location,” he said.

His employees rallied Monday as the first steps of the process started.

Jeff Krezo, commercial maintenance coordinator, said all of the company’s employees, even some who were scheduled for vacation, were pitching in Monday.

“You really feel the teamwork,” Krezo said.

Crews called back to the scene

Firefighters had returned to the property along U.S. Route 322 twice by Monday evening.

Flames were pouring from the roof by the time firefighters could arrive.

Hockenberry said high winds helped the blaze spread quickly. In addition to the building, the business lost three vehicles that were inside.

Firefighters were able to get another vehicle out of the structure, and others helped push several more away from the heat, likely saving them. They were also able to save files from inside the office.

Hockenberry said they had a problem getting enough water. Multiple tanker trucks were called to help with the water issues.

A portion of Route 322 was closed until early Monday morning while crews battled the blaze.

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Man strips naked, straddles vehicle after car crash

A man was facing multiple charges, police said, after allegedly crashing his car in a multi-vehicle collision, assaulting another man, stripping naked, straddling a vehicle as it drove along a highway, and causing traffic delays on December 11.
The incident happened on Route 28 in Virginia. This footage shows the aftermath of the collision. The man can be seen behaving erratically, and strips naked for a period. He is also seen straddling the headboard frame of a vehicle.
Police said the man was detained for a short time on the grounds of Dulles Airport, after the events in this footage.
“He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” police said. “No one else was injured during the crash or assault. Charges are pending as we are working to identify the suspect.”